As a fire offering to God, the priest shall then burn the memorial portion taken from its coarse meal and oil, as well as all its frankincense.

Commentary:

meal offeringMinchah in Hebrew. See Genesis 4:3. Some say that it comes from the root nachah denoting lowness, and thus translating it 'homage gift' (Hirsch; HaKethav VeHaKabbalah; cf. Genesis 32:14). It can also be related to the word nicho'ach, see Leviticus 1:9. Or, it can come from the root nachah in the sense that it denotes rest; hence a minchah can denote an 'inanimate offering,' an offering taken from the vegetable kingdom.

wheat mealSoleth in Hebrew. This was wheat meal (Sifra; Rashi; from Exodus 29:2). It was the best grade of meal, perfectly clean of all bran (Saadia; Ibn Ezra; cf. Kiddushin 69b). The soleth used for meal offerings was a coarsely ground meal (Rashi, Menachoth 66a, s.v. Shel Gerosoth; Radak, Sherashim, from Avoth 5:15, cf. Meiri ad loc.) It had to be carefully sifted to remove all the fine flour (Menachoth 85a; Yad, Issurey HaMizbeach 6:12).

The amount of such an offering was 1/10 ephah or around 2 quarts (Rashi; Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:3).

frankincenseLevonah in Hebrew. See Exodus 30:34. The amount of frankincense placed on the offering was one handful (Sifra; Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:7).

three fingers full The priest scooped out the flour with the three middle fingers of the hand, using the thumb and pinky to rub off any flour sticking out at the ends (Menachoth 11a. Rashi; Radak, Sherashim). According to others, however, the kemitzah was a complete handful ( Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:13, see Kesef Mishneh ad loc.; Ralbag). The priest would have to scoop up at least an amount the size of two olives (around 100 c.c. or 3 1/2 fl. oz.) (Yad, loc.cit.).

Before scooping up the flour, the frankincense would be put to the side, so that only flour and oil would be scooped up (Sotah 14b; Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:12).

Scooping the portion from a meal offering was in place of slaughter of an animal (Rambam on Menachoth 1:1).

and then take... The frankincense would then be removed separately, and placed on the scooped flour (Ibid.; Rashi; Sifra).

mixed with olive oil Together with warm water ( Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:8). All meal offerings were kneaded with warm water (Menachoth 55a; Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 12:21) Some say that this made a better quality loaf (Tifereth Yisrael, Menachoth 5:8), especially since the offerings were made with coarse meal. According to others, warm water was used so that additional care would be taken that the offering not begin to ferment (Likutey Halakhoth, Zevach Todah, Menachoth, p. 22a,b; Metzafeh Ethan on Menachoth 53a; cf. Rashi, Menachoth 53a, s.v. Menayin).

saturated Literally, 'anointed.' A log (10 oz.) of oil was taken, and rubbed on the unperforated matzahs until it was all absorbed (Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:9). According to others, the matzahs were anointed with the oil in the form of an X (see Exodus 29:7), and the rest of the oil could be consumed by the priests (cf. Rashi; Menachoth 74b, 75a).

Some say that the matzahs were oiled after they were baked (Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:8), but others question this and state that they may have been oiled before baking (Ralbag).

pan fried... Literally, 'meal offering on a pan' (see Menachoth 63a; Rashi.) Machbath in Hebrew. Cf. Ezekiel 4:3. The oil was first placed in the pan (2:7), and then the meal was placed on it. More oil was then mixed with the meal, and it was kneaded with warm water (Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:6; cf. Rashi, Menachoth 74b, s.v. Matan Shemen).

Break it... In all these offerings, the 1/10 ephah of flour was baked into ten loaves (Menachoth 76a; Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:10; Rashi). Each of these loaves would then be broken into four pieces, each approximately the size of an olive (Sifra; Menachoth 75a,b; Yad, loc. cit.). Some say that any pieces larger than olive size must be broken up further (Rashi, Menachoth 75b; Rambam on Menachoth 6:4).

In this respect... This was done to all meal offerings that were baked or fried (Menachoth 75a; Rashi; Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:6).

lift out Or, 'raise to a higher status.' Harem in Hebrew, related to the word terumah. See Leviticus 6:8. After the loaf was broken into pieces (Leviticus 2:6), the priest would scoop out three fingers full as Leviticus 2:2 (Menachoth 61a; Rashi).

as soon as it ripens... (Radak, Sherashim; Hirsch). Aviv in Hebrew. Some say that it denotes barley (Menachoth 61b; cf. Exodus 9:31), especially when it is ripe enough to be eaten (Saadia; Ibn Janach). According to others, it refers to the early grain (Rashi, Menachoth 66a, s.v. aviv). Still others maintain that it denotes grain roasted in a perforated vessel (Targum Yonathan; cf. Menachoth 66a; Yad, Tamidim 7:22).

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